Autoblog

As of September 1st, all new cars, vans, light trucks and SUVs sold in Canada will have to be fitted with anti-theft electronic immobilizers as mandated by Transport Canada. Most carmakers have announced plans to equip their 2008 model vehicles in Canada with immobilizers as standard equipment, and the move has been widely applauded by Insurance Bureau of Canada as it will undoubtedly reduce vehicle thefts.

The electronic device is designed to arm itself automatically when the ignition is switched off to prevent any would-be Canuck car thieves from starting the car without the proper keys. It works by cutting off three vital contacts, the starter, ignition and fuel.

A study has found that of the top 10 most stolen cars in Canada last year, none were equipped with an approved immobilizer. In fact, the first car equipped with an immobilizer comes in at number 28 on the list.

[Source: AutoNorth.ca]

We reported a long while back about Saab's plan to sharply reduce the number of drunk driving cases involving its own vehicles in Sweden and abroad. Called the AlcoKey, this small cell phone size device is basically a breathalyzer with a radio transmitter that tells your Saab whether or not you're fit to be behind the wheel. If you fail the breath test, the car won't start -- simple as that. Not only does it analyze the alcohol content in your breath, it also measures the temperature of your breath to thwart those trying to game the device by using a balloon or an air pump to pass air through it.

Saab will be field-testing the AlcoKey in Sweden with the help of various car fleet and taxi operators over the next six months in 100 vehicles. This is the last step before Saab might offer the AlcoKey as an option with the 9-5 or 9-3 sedans for 3,000 SEK ($408USD, we think).

The last two years of development have been spent shrinking the device to an acceptable size and increasing its battery life, which Saab says now stands at 12 months if the device were to be used five times a day. If you need to use the AlcoKey five times a day, then perhaps you have bigger problems than not being able to start your car.

[Source: World Car Fans]